Trace connection



(No Model.)

H. O. STAH-LEY.

TRACE CONNECTION.

No. 473,094. Patented Apr. 19, 1892.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY O. STAHLEY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRACE CONNECTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Q Letters Patent No. 473,094, dated April 19, 1892.

Application filed December 1, 1891- Serial No. 4l3|7 N model) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY O. STAHLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace Connections; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This improvement is designed to provide a new device for connecting a trace to a whiffletree; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described, and then definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top view of a trace provided with myimprovement attached to a whiffletree. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my trace attachment on a larger scale.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A represents the trace, and B the ordinary link commonly usedfor closing the loop. This link as generally made is an ordinary quadrangular loop and has the ob-' jection of making a short bend or kink in the trace, which is highly objectionable, as the pressure and consequent friction soon abrades the leather and weakens it at this point, so that the trace soon breaks. To overcome this objection is the object of my improvement, which I do by the use of the peculiar link 0 shown in perspective in Fig. 3. This link has three cross-bars c c -c connected b side y pieces 0' c', the back part of which should be curved of substantially the same curve as the circumference of the whiflietree at that point where it is to be used. The front part is also preferably curved; but it may be straight.

The trace A is attached to the cross-bar O by sewing or other convenient means, and when the loop is made in the trace and the latter'set on the whiffletree D, as shown, the bar 0' presses 011 the top of the loop, where it is supported by the whiffletree, and the crossbar 0" bears on the trace at some distance from the whiffietree, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be observed that by this arrangement and construction there is a co-operation between the whiffletree and the link, because as one bar of the link rests upon the whiff-letree said link is partially supported by the same, and hence the front bar of the link is prevented from pressing hard on the trace, and thus forming the kink or short bend before referred to, by which means the usual wear at this point is prevented, and the trace will thus last longer and present a much more sightly appearance.

WVhat-I claim as new is- A trace-fastening link comprising two upwardly and outwardly curved side bars connected at their outer ends by cross-bars and a cross-bar connecting the lower portion, said link adapted to be attached to a trace end to be looped over a whiffletree, substantially as described. Y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature this. 1st day of July, A. D. 1891.

HARRY O. STAHLEY. [L. s]

In presence of- JOSIAH W. ELLs, JOHN S. KENNEDY. 

